At the Feast of St George event in Trafalgar Square on Saturday 21st April, there will be all types of music played on the stage there throughout the afternoon but at 3pm there will be an hour of music hall. The BMHS will also be running a stall all afternoon.

The music hall tradition goes back to the early 19th century, when pubs, supper rooms and pleasure gardens provided popular entertainment in the fast growing towns and cities of Britain. This was nowhere stronger than in London, and in the years before sound recordings and cinema, the music halls, and their songs and stars were immensely popular. The Players Theatre, originally founded in 1936, celebrate this tradition, and will bring to Trafalgar Square an exuberant and joyful performance featuring some of the best known music hall songs. Led by Jan Hunt, chairman Peter John, singers Julia Sutton, Judith Hibbert and Mickey Driver, plus dancers from Laine Theatre Arts school choreographed by Lucie Spencer, the show will include a tribute to female stars of yesteryear such as Marie Lloyd, Florrie Ford and Gracie Fields.

Very special guest will be Anita Harris , whose stage, screen and recording career spans over fifty years. She has worked with many legendary artists from the world of entertainment, appeared in two Carry On films, enjoyed success in the pop charts, played the role of Peter Pan in pantomime, and starred in Cats in the West End. Anita will portray the music hall artist Vesta Tilley, famous for her performance of ‘Burlington Bertie’.

“The City’s standard bearers for old-school music hall … this is cutting edge Victoriana … rich in eccentricities beloved by the English and their visitors” Time Out

BMHS Chairman Adam Borzone featured briefly on Radio 4’s Saturday morning show Saturday Live on Saturday 17th March. Adam mentions the tribute lunch the Society gave Sir Ken Dodd last October. To hear Adam please click on the link below. Adam can be heard around 1 hour and 21 minutes in to the show:

On Saturday 21st April there will be a big (and free) St. George’s Day Celebration in Trafalgar Square from 12 noon until 6pm. There will be brass bands, pop and folk music and, at 3pm, 45 minutes of music hall provided by the Players’ Theatre with Jan Hunt and Peter John leading the cast.